翻江倒海 (fān jiāng dǎo hǎi) — overwhelming; earth-shattering; stirring up great upheaval

Definition

A vivid chengyu for an overwhelming, earth-shattering upheaval — literal image of rivers churning and seas overturning. Used for storms, emotions, or massive change.

idiom
overwhelmingearth-shatteringstirring up great upheaval

Examples

  • 翻江倒海，。
    Zhè chǎng bào yǔ jiǎn zhí fān jiāng dǎo hǎi, zhěng gè chéng shì dōu yān le.
    This rainstorm was absolutely overwhelming—the entire city was flooded.
  • 翻江倒海。
    Tā de dào lái zài gōng sī lǐ xiān qǐ le yì chǎng fān jiāng dǎo hǎi de biàn huà.
    His arrival stirred up an earth-shattering change within the company.
  • ，翻江倒海，。
    Tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi, tā xīn zhōng fān jiāng dǎo hǎi, jiǔ jiǔ bù néng píng jìng.
    When she heard the news, her heart was in turmoil for a long time.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

翻江turn over rivers
翻fānturn over江jiāngriver
动宾Verb + object
倒海overturn seas
倒dǎooverturn海hǎisea
动宾Verb + object

翻江 and 倒海 describe turning over rivers and seas, together suggesting overwhelming force.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羽羽yǔwings
Sound part声符shēngfú
番
番fān翻fān
Same sound today

翻 pairs 羽 (wings) with 番, which gives the sound. The shape shows something fluttering.

Open 翻 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng江jiāng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

江 puts 氵, the water side, beside 工, which gives a sound; the water part points to its river meaning.

Open 江 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
到
到dào倒dào
Same sound today

倒 combines 亻 (person) with 到, which gives the sound.

Open 倒 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
每
每měi海hǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

海 pairs 氵 (water) with 每, which gives the sound. The 氵 side shows it is about water.

Open 海 →

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